Eye protection is protective gear for the eyes, and sometimes face, designed to reduce the risk of injury. Examples of risks requiring eye protection can include: impact from particles or debris,

light Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be visual perception, perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400– ...

radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'' consisting of photons, such as radio waves, microwaves, infr ...

, wind blast,

heat In thermodynamics, heat is energy in transfer between a thermodynamic system and its surroundings by such mechanisms as thermal conduction, electromagnetic radiation, and friction, which are microscopic in nature, involving sub-atomic, ato ...

, sea spray or impact from some type of

ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but sometimes ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for s ...

or puck used in sports. Eye protection are typically separated into categories based on the style of eye wear and the hazard they are designed to reduce. There categories include:

Spectacles Glasses, also known as eyeglasses (American English), spectacles (Commonwealth English), or colloquially as specs, are Visual perception, vision eyewear with clear or tinted lens (optics), lenses mounted in a frame that holds them in front ...

with side protection; Goggles; Welding helmet; Welding Hand Shields; Non-Rigid Helmets (hoods);

Face shield A face shield, an item of personal protective equipment, aims to protect the wearer's entire face (or part of it) from hazards such as Projectile, flying objects and road debris, chemical splashes (in laboratory, laboratories or in Industry (eco ...

; and

Respirator A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling hazardous atmospheres including lead, lead fumes, vapors, gases and particulate matter such as dusts and airborne pathogens such as viruses. There are two main categories o ...

Face pieces.

Styles

Spectacles

Safety glasses or spectacles, although often used as a catch-all term for all types of eye protection, specifically revers to protective equipment that closely resembles common eye wear. To meet most national standards, spectacles must include side shields to reduce the ability of debris to get behind the lenses from the side. Safety glasses can often mount insert frames to mount prescription corrective lenses for users with suboptimal vision. Such insert frames are mounted behind the protective lens. In some applications, regular eye wear, if manufactured from high-impact materials, can be worn with removable side shields. Oversized spectacles are also manufactured, designed to sit over the users normal eye wear.

Goggles

Goggles are forms of protective eyewear that enclose the eye area in order to prevent particulates, infectious fluids, or chemicals from striking the eyes. Goggles come in two styles, eyecup goggles, and cover goggles. Eyecup goggles completely cover the eye socket to give all-round protection. They have adjustable or elasticized headbands and often are equipped with ventilation ports to allow air in and prevent fogging. For example,

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, such as saltwater or freshwater environments, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Swimmers achieve locomotion by coordinating limb and body movements to achieve hydrody ...

goggles to protect the eyes from

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

chlorine Chlorine is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate between ...

. Cover goggles are designed to be worn over eye wear. Like eyecup goggles, they have adjustable or elasticized headbands and are equipped with direct or indirect ventilation ports to allow air in and prevent fogging. While both models keep out large particles, indirect-vented goggles are better at keeping out liquids and dusts.

Welding helmets and shields

A welding helmet is a type of headgear used when performing certain types of welding to protect the eyes, face and neck from flash burn, ultraviolet light, sparks, infrared light, and heat. A welding hand shield is a metal plate containing the same protective lens as a welding helmet with a handle on the bottom, intended to be held up in front of the face while working.

Hoods

Hoods (or non-rigid helmets) come with impact-resistant windows usually made of plastic or similar material. An air-supply system may also be incorporated. Hoods are made of non-rigid material for use in confined spaces and of collapsible construction for convenience in carrying and storing.

Face shields

A face shield is a device used to protect wearer's entire face (or part of it) from hazards such as impact, splash, heat, or glare. With face shields, as with welding helmets and hand shields, the user is continually lifting and lowering the visor. To protect the eyes when the visor is lifted, spectacles should be worn underneath.

Respirator face pieces

A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling particulate matter, including airborne microorganisms, fumes, vapours and gases.

Protection categories

Flying objects

Insects like flies, bees, and wasps can fly at high speeds and come into contact with a person's eyes. Their wings or stingers can cause irritation or even scratch the cornea, which can be painful and potentially cause long-term damage. Small projectiles and fragments generated from processes like grinding, machining, or tool or part breakage under strain (e.g., when torque is applied with hand tools,

power tool A power tool is a tool that is actuator, actuated by an additional engine, power source and mechanism (engineering), mechanism other than the solely manual labour, manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric ...

impact wrench An impact wrench (also known as an impactor, impact gun, air wrench, air gun, rattle gun, torque gun, windy gun) is a socket wrench power tool designed to deliver high torque output with minimal exertion by the user, by storing energy in a ro ...

es, or cheater bars) can have the potential to penetrate some types of protective eye-wear. In the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 standard is used to certify protective eye-wear which is capable of protecting from these hazards.

Flying particles, dust, and wind

Debris such as dust, dirt, and small rocks can be picked up by the wind and fly into one's eyes. This can cause discomfort and potentially lead to a corneal abrasion or infection.

Heat, sparks, and splash from molten materials

UV radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can also harm a person's eyes. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions that can lead to vision loss.

Acid splash; chemical burns

A large percentage of eye injuries are caused by direct contact with chemicals. These injuries often result from an inappropriate choice of personal protective equipment that allows a chemical substance to enter from around or under protective eye equipment. Serious and irreversible damage can occur when chemical substances contact the eyes in the form of splash, mists, vapors, or fumes. When working with or around chemicals, it is important to know the location of emergency eyewash stations and how to access them with restricted vision. When fitted and worn correctly, goggles protect your eyes from hazardous substances. A face shield may be required in areas where workers are exposed to severe chemical hazards. Personal protective equipment devices for chemical hazards: * Safety goggles: Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes against liquid or chemical splash, irritating mists, vapors, and fumes. *

s: Secondary protectors intended to protect the entire face against exposure to chemical hazards.

Abrasive blasting materials

Glare or stray light

The human eye is sensitive to intense light because it damages the

retina The retina (; or retinas) is the innermost, photosensitivity, light-sensitive layer of tissue (biology), tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some Mollusca, molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focus (optics), focused two-dimensional ...

and can even blind the individual. There are many different types of eye protection against light suited for different applications. The most common forms of eye protection against light are sunglasses. These primarily protect against UV light from the sun and help increase visibility in bright conditions. They often tend to be fashionable as well as practical.

Injurious optical radiation (Moderate)

Laser protection eyewear will filter out a particular (or small range of) wavelength(s), customized to the

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word ''laser'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...

being viewed. Laser protection eye wear is particularly important because of the extremely high intensity of laser light.

Injurious optical radiation (Severe)

Welding Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, primarily by using high temperature to melting, melt the parts together and allow them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Co ...

glass protects against glare and flying sparks. It is a more extreme implementation of the same idea as sunglasses, suited to the more intense light generated during

welding Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, primarily by using high temperature to melting, melt the parts together and allow them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Co ...

. Arc welding goggles must be much darker than blowtorch goggles. Shades 12, 13, and 14 welding glass must be used to stare directly at the sun or a solar eclipse. These higher index shades are suitable for arc welding and therefore are suitable for solar viewing. Sunglasses will not provide sufficient protection.

Other protection

*Eye protectors used in

sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

s like

orienteering Orienteering is a group of sports that involve using a map and compass to navigation, navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specia ...

and

cycling Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...

to protect

eyes An eye is a sensory organ that allows an organism to perceive visual information. It detects light and converts it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). It is part of an organism's visual system. In higher organisms, the ey ...

from

insect Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...

dust Dust is made of particle size, fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian processes, aeolian process), Types of volcan ...

and

wind Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...

blast. *Infection control glasses *Eye shields used in External beam radiotherapy to shield sensitive parts of the eye from ionizing radiation

Helmets and visors

Some helmets and visors also protect the eyes: * Armor visors were used in conjunction with some

Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

war helmets to protect the eyes from impact. * Batting helmet with full face coverage is used by the catcher in

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

and

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

games to protect the eyes and face from impact. * Eyeshield is a piece of

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

equipment which attaches to a player's helmet to protect the eyes from impact. * Fighter pilot helmet includes a visor for protection from the sun and from wind blast in case of an ejection from the aircraft. * Some firefighter's helmets have visors which protect the eyes from infrared rays and the radiant heat of fire as well as from impact. * Hockey helmets have visors, shields, cages and masks to protect the eyes and face from impact. *

Hurling Hurling (, ') is an outdoor Team sport, team game of ancient Gaelic culture, Gaelic Irish origin, played by men and women. One of Ireland's native Gaelic games, it shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goa ...

helmets protect the eyes from the ball and from near contact with other players. * Lacrosse helmets used in men's lacrosse have a cage to protect the face and eyes from impact. * Lifeboatman's helmet has a transparent visor to keep sea spray out of the eyes. * Motorcycle helmets and

Bicycle helmet A bicycle helmet is a type of helmet designed to attenuate impacts to the head of a cycling, cyclist in collisions while minimizing side effects such as interference with peripheral vision. History History of designs A cycle helme ...

s have face shields that protects the eyes against wind blast, dust, insects and impact in the event of a crash. * Racing helmets also have face shields (narrower than motorcycle helmets) to protect against fire and impact. * Riot protection helmets have visors to protect the eyes and face from projectiles and impact. * Safety helmets, also called hard hats, used by chainsaw operators and construction workers often have visors to protect the eyes from impact. * Space suit helmets have gold-impregnated face shields to protect astronauts from the direct rays of the sun.

Gallery

Image:SafetyGlassesShield.jpg, Safety glasses Image:Mezmay, Sports sunglasses, Russia.jpg, Sunglasses Image:US_Navy_020202-N-5563S-001_USS_Blue_Ridge_-_Welder.jpg, A U.S. Navy sailor using welding glasses Image:Eclipsbrilletje.JPG, Solar eclipse glasses Image:Seal Swim Goggles.jpg, Swim goggles Image:Military laser experiment.jpg, A U.S. military scientist using laser protection eyewear Image:Eye-shield.jpg, Infection control eye protection U.S._Navy_sailor_aboard_USS_McKee%2C_c._1999.png, U.S. Navy sailor wearing eye protection in the late 1990s File:UVEX S3300 Genesis XC protective eyewear.jpg, U.S. Military Combat Eye Protection (MCEP) glasses with an inserted optional prescription lens carrier.The Science Behind Glasses - How Does Vision Work?
/ref> Image:Piers Sellers spacewalk.jpg, The

gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

-impregnated faceshield of

spacesuit A space suit (or spacesuit) is an environmental suit used for protection from the harsh Space environment, environment of outer space, mainly from its Vacuum (outer space), vacuum as a highly specialized pressure suit, but also its temperatu ...

s protects astronauts from direct Sun rays. Image:Millward0004 211.jpg, Anna Millward wearing a cycling helmet and eye protectors Image:Surgeon wearing loupes with blood spatter.jpg, Surgeon wearing loupes as eye protection from

blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood is com ...

spatter

References

{{Authority control Eye Protective gear Occupational safety and health